Portable scaffold



No. 610,934. Patented Sep't. 20, |898.

L. `E.`WEBBER.

PURTABLE SCAFFDLD.

(Application N0. 6|0,934. Patented Sept-20, |898.

L. E. WEBBER.

PORTABLE SCAFFOLD.

(Application led Mar. S. 189B.|

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

THE Hemus Penas co. mo'muwo. wAsmNcJoN, o c.

for its object to provide a simple and effective cation, in whichp ivrrn- L'ISE E. VEBBER, OF PARKERSBURG, VEST VIRGINIA.'-

PO RTABLE SCAFFOVLD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent o. 610,934, dated September 20, 18918.

Application nea March 8,1898.

To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUISE E. WEBBER, a` citizen of the United States, residing at Parkersburg, county of Wood, and State of Vest Virginia, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Portable Scaffolds, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in portable scaffolds, and has apparatus of this description which may be moved from place to place and when in position will serve all the purposes for which an ordinary scaffolding is used; and a further object of my invention is to so construct and arrange my improvement as to utilize it as a fire-escape or lifting apparatus for various works.

With these ends in view this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth, and then specifically designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may understand how to make and use the same, the construction and operation will now be described in detail, referring to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specifi- Figure l is a perspective of my improvement in place for use; Fig. 2, a vertical section thereof 5 Fig. 3, a section of the platform, showing the lever for lifting the standard out of contact with the ground; and Fig. 4, a perspective of a guide band or bracket, showing the standard and sliding block in dotted lines.

In carrying out my invention as here embodied I'construct a standard A so as toV form an interior channel B, and this standard is passed through the platform C in such manner that it may be raised and lowered therein, while the platform may be mounted upon trundle-rolls D, as clearly shown. A lever E is fulcrumed at F to a post secured to the platform, and the inner end of this lever is pivoted to the standard, as indicated at G. By this arrangement it will be seen that the standard may be raised and lowered to a limited degree by the lever, and when lowered will rest upon the ground or other surface seau no. 673,134. or@ moar-,1.3

upon which the caster-rolls are resting, While when the lever is operated to elevate the standard the lower end of the latter will be carried out of contact with the ground, and thus permit the transfer of the apparatus from one point to another. Vhen the standard is thus elevated, the lever may be secured in this position by the hook and chain H being engaged with a suitable staple I.

J represents a block of some length fitted and yadapted to slide within the channel B formed in the standard, and upon this block is supported the platform K by means of the bracket L and braces M in such manner that when the 4block is raised or lowered this platform will be carried therewith. A suitable railing N vextends along one side of the platform and the two ends thereof, so as to prevent the Workmen from falling therefrom, and upon this platform is mounted a windlass O, provided with a suitable ratchet P and pawl Q for preventing its retrograde movement.

Arope orsuitable cableR is attached tothe upper end of the block J and, extending upward, passes around the pulley S, and from thence downward through a hole in the platform, around the pulley S', and again upward, and is coiled around the drumrhaving one end attached thereto. This, as will be seen, will enable one or more persons standing upon the platform to raise or lower the same by the manipulation of the Acrank T, which in winding the cable upon the drum or the windlass will draw the block upward.

The pulley S is journaled in the bland or clip U, the latter being fitted around the standard and having a series of teeth V formed upon the back thereof, which are adapted to engage with the rear surface of the standard, a springVV serving to normally draw the band downward at its outer portion when strain has been released from the pulley S. The object of this is to provide for the safety of the apparatus in that should the rope or cable break or become suddenly slackened the spring W will draw the band downward, thereby causing the teeth Vto engage with the back of the standard and in so doing arrest the downward movement of the platform. A second band W is passed IOO around the standard and has its ends attached to the block, thus forming a further guide for said block, since this band will slide upon the standard. In placing the apparatus in position said cables or ropes X may be utilized to hold said standard in an upright position and enable it to withstand the side strains brought to bear thereon, and these ropes will be especially needed when the standard is of considerable height and the platform heavily loaded. Two arms Y extend horizontally from the upper portion of the standard and are adapted to rest against the side of the building or other surface, and it is to be noted that this standard may be lengthened by the addition of sections, one of which is indicated at a, being joined thereto by couplings b.

From this description it will be seen that my improvement is especially adapted for use in the construction of buildings where a scaffold is needed, since it may be adjusted to any desired height and raised and lowered as needed.

My improvement is also adapted for use in elevating material and may be well applied as ahrc-escape, since when placed in proximity to a building the platform may be first elevated and when filled with people escaping from said building may be lowered and this process continued until the building is emptied.

Myimprovement may be put to many other uses here not mentioned, and in practice has proved an entire success.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and useful is 1. In combination, asuitable base, a standard fitted thereto, a lever for raising and lowering said standard within certain limits, a block adapted to travel within a channel formed in the standard, a platform supported upon the block, a windlass journaled upon the platform, cranks for revolving said windlass, a ratchet and pawl for holding the windlass against retrograde movement, a band passed around the standard and block, teeth formed upon the back of the band, a guidepulley passed around said pulley, a suitable pulley journaled atthe top of the standard, over which the cable also passes, said cable being attached to the block and windlass, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The herein-described combination of a platform, casters upon lwhich said platform is mounted, a standard fitted within the platform, a lever fulcrumed upon the platform and pivoted to the standard whereby said standard may be raised or lowered within certain limits, and means for securing the lever when the standard is elevated, as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto afxed my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

vLOUISE E. VEBBER.

lVitnesses:

SAMUEL T. SrAPLEToN, M. B. STEPHENsoN. 

